| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Ri Kum-Suk | ||
| Date of birth | August 16, 1978 | ||
| Place of birth | Pyongyang, North Korea | ||
| Height | 1.71 m (5 ft 7 in) | ||
| Playing position | Central Forward | ||
| Club information | |||
| Current club | 4.25 Sports Team | ||
| Number | 10 | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps† | (Gls)† |
| ? - Present | 4.25 Sports Team | 178 | (125) |
| National team‡ | |||
| 1998 | DPR Korea | 65 | (40) |
| * Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 19:37, 3 November 2007 (UTC). † Appearances (Goals). |
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Ri Kum-Suk (Korean: 리금숙; born 16 August 1978) is a North Korean footballer who plays for the 4.25 Sports Team. She plays a key role not only for her club, but also for her national teams in the AFC Women's Asian Cup, Asian Games and FIFA Women's World Cup.[1]
Ri Kum-Suk began her international career from 1999 FIFA Women's World Cup at age of 20, when her team could not get out of the group stage, losing to Nigeria and USA as 2-1, 3-0, and making a surprise win over Denmark, 3-1. She played as a midfielder during those games, supporting their young and talented striker Jin Byol-Hui.
In 4 years, PRK Women's National Team again qualified to the 2003 FIFA Women's World Cup and Ri played as a key player of the team with her friend Jin Byol-Hui. Short No. 7 on her back, she showed her potential and talent to the world, with the sweet revenge over Nigeria as 3-0, striking 5 times of Shot and 2 times of Shot on goals to the goalpost. Even though, her team could not proceed to the quarterfinals, she played very well in last two games against Sweden and USA, 6 times Shot and 1 time SOG.
The 2007 FIFA Women's World Cup was the most unforgettable tournament for her. Qualifying to the finals, by taking 3rd place in 2006 AFC Women's Championship due to referee judgement during the game against China PR. Her team belonged to Group B with USA, Sweden and Nigeria.
At their very first game against USA, Ri Kum-Suk and her team shook the football world again. With the injury of key midfielder Ho Sun-Hui at 10 minutes in the first half, they had a very tough game and conceded a goal 50 minutes to USA, but they did not fall down and finally changed the situation by scoring at 58 minutes and 62 minutes. In 69 minutes the USA to scored, by mistake of defender. Ri Kum-Suk scored in the next game against Nigeria with her special head shot and also played well enough against Sweden to get out of the group stage.
The most game she showed her strike and dribble skill was against China PR in the 15th Doha Asian Games, when the two teams tied after 90 minutes. Ri Kum-Suk scored a goal in the 2nd extra time, by striking a powerful shot with her left foot.
Ri Kum-suk hat-trick sent D.P.R.K into the final of the AFC Women's Asian Cup after they defeated Australia 3-0 at Thong Nat Stadium in the 2007 AFC Women's Asian Cup.[2]
Ri also played for Korea DPR at the 2008 Summer Olympics.[3]
She is the captain of their national team and is regarded as a female football hero in her country.
Recently she retired to start a career as coach. It's reported that she married Pak Chung Hyok, coach of the women’s football team of the Jebi Sports Team, in November 2008, and gave birth to a son.
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